Magic Shop System

"It's Nightmare poison," Kadyn said as he eyed the Emperor—on the bed—whose entire skin was turning blue. It took about four hours to get back to the capital for everyone. Though Kadyn and his companions used their own means to get back, to make preparations to cure the Emperor.

Kadyn opened three boxes on the table that was lying at the corner of the room. "I have Green Mint, Viper Turmeric, and Demon Garlic," he paused and turned towards the three youngsters in the room. Grym Ceston—he was the Crown prince. Palio Ceston, the second—and youngest of the three—son of the emperor, and Hayla Ceston, the one and only princess. "I still need Medusa Leaves," Kadyn said.

"All the medicines you named," began the Crown prince, "are deadly poisonous. How are you going to cure our father with these things?"

"Crown prince," Kadyn smiled. "Have you heard a saying: iron cuts the iron?" Grym and the other two looked confused, so he elaborated. "Poisons aren't only for killing. They can also save lives. There value is no less than any other medicine that we usually use."

Hayla looked at Kadyn and then turned towards her elder brother. "I trust him, brother."

"Do you?" the Crown prince said.

Hayla nodded and said, "I have been observing him for quite some time, and he is quite capable. Furthermore, if he wanted to do anything bad to father, he didn't need to do anything. Left Minister would have already killed our father."

Grym Ceston fell silent and then looked at Kadyn. "I think we have a few stalks of Medusa Leaves in the castle."

"I will bring it here," Palio hurriedly said and dashed out of the room. The emperor would frown—or groan—from time to time, in pain. Kadyn and the other two waited for about half an hour before Palio rushed into the room. He passed a wooden box to Kadyn and said, "It's inside."

"Good," Kadyn nodded. "I need to brew a potion. I will be back in an hour or two."

As Kadyn walked out, Grym looked at his sister. "Do you really believe him?" he asked.

"Yes," she nodded, seriously. "Ever since he arrived in the capital, I have been keeping an eye on him. Didn't you notice what his people, and he did in the battle? Without them, we would have been crushed by just Segast. Bone Spear Tower didn't even need to do anything."

"Isn't it weird?" asked the silent Palio.

"What do you mean?" said Grym.

"Father is injured," he said. "Our army is absent, the remaining army is injured or tired." He looked at his siblings and proceeded. "Why Bone Spear Tower din't take the advantage of the situation? I don't understand. Do you think, they colluded with Segast and the Left Minister, for just fun?"

Hayla and Grym exchanged worried glances but said nothing. This matter was also weighing on their hearts for quite some time, but neither of them brought it up. All this time, they were busy caring about their father.

"No matter what they are planning"—Hayla looked at her unconscious father—"they will never succeed as long as father is alive. They think he died. This, we can use against them."

'Knock~ knock~'

Someone hit on the door from outside. "Who is it?" asked Grym.

"It's me, Dion," a voice said from outside.

"Come in, please," replied Grym.

Dion opened the door and stepped into the room. "Someone has been dispatched by the Right Minister to inform that a very important guest has arrived. He wants to meet the Emperor."

"Did the messenger say who it is?" asked Hayla.

"No." Dion, however, shook his head. "He said it is very important, and if the Emperor couldn't go, then the Crown prince must hurry as soon as possible."

The siblings exchanged glances. Grym nodded and then walked out of the room together with Dion. An hour later, Grym arrived back. He was still in shock by what he had heard.

"What happened?" asked Hayla. 

"Commander Dyso has arrived with the army," said Grym.

Hayla looked at her elder brother and asked, "Is he the reason behind your troubling frown?"

"No," he shook his head. "There was someone—"

'Slam!'

The door of the room burst open. Kadyn walked in, covered in sweat, smelling like a rotten fish. "I have succeeded in concocting the counterpart of the Nightmare poison. I am ninety percent sure that it will work."

"What about the remaining ten percent?" Palio objected.

"That it won't work. Isn't that obvious?" replied Kadyn.

"Which means?"

"Prince Palio," Kadyn said. "At first I thought you don't speak much. But now, I am wondering when you'll stop."

An awkward long pause.

"Cough, anyway," Kadyn said. "Five percent chance is that the Nightmare poison would overcome the poison that I made, and I have to find another method to save His Majesty."

"What about the other five percent?"

"That the poison I made would devour the Nightmare poison, and I have to find another solution."

"..." Palio.

"..." Hayla.

"..." Grym.

"Hey, don't give me that look," Kadyn jumped when he saw their pointed looks. "It isn't easy to maintain the fine balance of two poisons. I have tried my best, and let me tell you—if I can't cure him, I doubt anyone would be able to do it either."

"Can't you use a different method?" Hayla asked after taking a long deep breath.

"I can concoct a rank 3 potion that could cure the Nightmare poison. However, it isn't easy to find the herbs for it. The Emperor won't be able to last that long."

The trio looked at each other. They didn't know what to make of this situation. Kadyn was their only hope, but this hope looks full of holes. If they made a wrong decision, they would lose their father, and if they didn't, they would still lose him.

"We don't have a choice here." It was Palio who spoke. "I think the more time we take the worse father's condition would become. I am ready to pin my hopes on Mr. Kadyn."

Kadyn was surprised.. Though Palio was the youngest of the three, he was the most decisive of them.